One slow drain or the whole house
The first thing we want to know is how many drains are affected. One sink that drains slowly usually has a clog in its own trap or branch line. A tub, a toilet and a floor drain that all misbehave together point to a blockage further down, in the main line.
That difference decides the tools, the time and the price. It is also the reason we ask questions on the phone before we send anyone out.
Signs a drain needs professional cleaning
- Water that drains slowly, then stops, a few days after you plunged it.
- Gurgling from a drain when a different fixture runs.
- A bad smell near a floor drain, tub or laundry standpipe.
- Water backing up into a tub or shower when you flush a toilet or run the washer.
- The same clog returning within weeks of being cleared.
What to do before we arrive
- 1Stop adding waterDo not run the dishwasher, washer or showers. Every gallon has to go somewhere, and a blocked line sends it back up.
- 2Skip the chemical cleanerNever mix drain products. A strong cleaner sitting in a pipe is a splash hazard for the plumber and can damage older fittings.
- 3Try a plunger onceA cup plunger on a sink or a flange plunger on a toilet can clear a soft clog. If it does not move after a few tries, stop.
- 4Protect the floorPut towels around a backing-up drain and keep children and pets away from standing water.
- 5Call and describe itTell dispatch which drains are slow, what went down them last, and whether water is coming up anywhere.
Water coming back up through a drain? Call now and we will talk you through it.
Call (239) 522-0887How we clear a clogged drain
A plumber starts with the simplest tool that will work. A hand auger or a cable machine breaks up or hooks the clog in a sink, tub or branch line. A main line with roots or heavy buildup may need a larger cable machine with a cutting head.
When a cable only punches a hole through the blockage, the clog tends to come back. If grease or scale coats the pipe wall, we explain whether hydro jetting would do a better job. If a line keeps clogging for no clear reason, a camera look at the pipe tells us what is really there.
| Problem | Likely cause | Typical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Single slow sink | Hair, soap or food in the trap or branch | Hand auger or small cable machine. |
| Kitchen line that keeps clogging | Grease and food solids coating the pipe | Cable machine, sometimes jetting. |
| Tub and toilet back up together | Blockage in the main line | Larger cable machine, camera if it repeats. |
| Floor drain smells or gurgles | Debris in the trap or a partly blocked line | Clean the drain, check the line. |
| Clog returns after weeks | Roots, a belly or a damaged pipe | Camera inspection, then a repair plan. |
What affects the price of drain cleaning
Factors that move the price
- Which drain
- A sink trap is quick work. A main line takes more time and heavier equipment.
- Access
- A cleanout outside the house makes the job simpler. With no cleanout, the plumber may have to go in through a toilet or roof vent.
- Cause of the clog
- Hair and soap clear easily. Roots, scale or a collapsed section need more than a cable.
- Tools used
- Hand tools, cable machines, jetting and a camera each carry a different charge.
- Time of day
- Nights, weekends and holidays are emergency calls and are priced as such.
We explain the options and give you a clear price before work starts. You decide whether to go ahead.
Want your real number? Call (239) 522-0887.
Drains in Estero homes
Keeping drains clear between visits
- Wipe grease from pans into the trash, not the sink.
- Use a drain strainer in every shower and tub.
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes sold as flushable still catch in pipes.
- Run hot water for a minute after washing dishes.
- Never pour paint, concrete slurry or coffee grounds down a drain.
Where we work
We clean drains across the Village of Estero and in Bonita Springs and San Carlos Park. If the clog has damaged a line, see sewer line repair. For a hot water problem on the same visit, see water heater repair.
Slow drain you are tired of plunging? Call and we will find out why.
Call (239) 522-0887Drain lines are sloped and vented under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th Edition. That is why a line that clogs again soon after cleaning can point to a slope, vent or damaged section, which a camera look will settle.
Drain cleaning questions
A cable can open a hole through a blockage while leaving buildup on the pipe walls. Grease, scale or roots then catch new debris. A camera look shows whether the pipe needs cleaning, jetting or repair.
We advise against it. Chemical cleaners can splash, can harm older pipes and are dangerous when mixed. They also sit in the pipe and put the plumber at risk.
We offer same-day appointments when available. Our emergency line runs 24/7, so call as soon as water starts backing up.
Stop all water use, keep people and pets out of the area and call right away. That usually means the main line is blocked, and it should not wait.
Not for every clog. We recommend one when a drain clogs again soon after cleaning, when several fixtures back up together, or when the cause is unclear.
Backups inside the house usually come from your own drain line. If a neighbor has the same issue, ask your utility whether the public main is blocked.
Yes. Describe the smell or the water level and we will bring the right tool.
Still deciding? Call (239) 522-0887 any hour and talk it through.